FORT MORGAN — — The Fort Morgan City Council tonight could move forward a change to the Municipal Code that would allow owners of city properties with multiple water taps to have one shut off for the winter without accruing base fees.

The Water Advisory Board recommended this change after the concern of some local "snowbirds" who leave the city for the winter came up during the process of changing the code in 2013. It then was brought before the board, which resulted in this recommendation, according to a city memo from Water Resources/Utilities Director Brent Nation.

The rules change would affect properties with at least two water taps, with a primary one and the other(s) used for irrigation purposes. The property owner would still have to pay the base rate on the primary tap while they were gone, but not the irrigation one while shut off for the winter.

The council will consider action on first reading of an ordinance that if finalized would make that change to the water code. The proposed ordinance for a water taps rules change would affect sections of Chapter 18, Water System. Any approval also likely would include setting a public hearing on the ordinance for the March 4 regular meeting before a vote on second reading.

The council will hold Tuesday night's regular meeting in an irregular place, though: the Fort Morgan Water Treatment Plant at 14625 Morgan County Road 8 near Wiggins.

That's because they will start off with a tour of the plant, which kicks off the series of city department showcases for the council members.

The council will leave Fort Morgan from City Hall at 4 p.m., head to the plant, take the tour, and then hold the regular meeting there.

The tours are intended to give the council a better idea of the operations and needs of the departments before beginning visioning and budgeting processes for 2015 and beyond.

The council also will consider action on another proposed ordinance, with the other one potentially affecting sections of Chapter 21, Building Regulations. It is needed due to a typo in another section of the building code that if not corrected could mean the city could not conduct local plumbing inspections, according to a city memo from Engineering/Public Works Director Brad Curtis.

As with the other proposed ordinance, the council likely would include with approval setting a public hearing for the March 4 regular meeting before a final vote.

Other agenda items

The council also will:

• Hear a presentation and consider action on appointing a broker for the city's workers' compensation coverage.

• Hold a discussion and direct staff on city health insurance coverage.

• Hold a discussion and direct staff on doing a new salary survey in 2014 that would follow up on the one conducted in summer and fall 2011 and then presented to the council in December 2011.

• Hear a presentation and consider action on bids for replacing three swimming pool boilers that were ruined from being under water during the flood last September, according to a city memo.

• Hear a presentation and consider action on bids for a rough mower for Quail Dunes at Fort Morgan golf course, which would replace a 12-year-old mower that is worn out, according to a city memo.

• Hear a presentation and consider action on bids for two four-wheel-drive, 3/4-ton, bi-fuel pickup for the Gas Department, which would replace two older two-wheel-drive pickups that are not sufficient for working on gas infrastructure in rural areas, according to a city memo.

• Consider approval of the consent agenda, which includes the January disbursements and payroll and the Feb. 4 regular council meeting minutes.

• And hold an executive session to determine positions, develop strategy for negotiations and/or instruct negotiators related to property and water purchases.

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